Statement on Chi Chapter At Cornell Updated 9/20

Updated Statement on the Chi Chapter of Psi Upsilon at Cornell University

September 20, 2017

The Executive Council of Psi Upsilon Fraternity has extended the suspension of the Chi Chapter at Cornell until Fall of 2020, effective immediately. No students at Cornell are allowed to associate themselves with Psi Upsilon Fraternity, use its name or symbols, or act on behalf of the fraternity. This includes recruitment of new members. Psi Upsilon will work with the Cornell administration after the suspension to restart the chapter and ensure the fraternity is a productive member of the campus community.

To clarify, the Cornell chapter has been suspended since spring 2016—meaning it has been closed and not recognized by the campus or Psi Upsilon since that time. In our investigation of the events of September 15, we found that no initiated members of Psi Upsilon were involved. However, we found some members of the suspended chapter were continuing to recruit, which is unacceptable. The chapter was originally planning to petition for reinstatement with Cornell this fall, but we feel it is best to wait to restart after all initiated members who are current students have graduated.

Further, we are encouraged by the actions of the Chi Board of Governors, the alumni who oversee the chapter house, for their cooperation, assistance and quick action in this situation.

Original statement below

September 16, 2017

Psi Upsilon Fraternity has been notified of an alleged hate crime involving members affiliated with the Chi Chapter of Psi Upsilon at Cornell University. The Chi Chapter, and all its undergraduate members were suspended in the Spring of 2016. No undergraduate members were allowed to function on behalf of Psi Upsilon Fraternity, or take part in any fraternal actions: Social, Service, Recruitment, Member Education, or any other event a reasonable person may associate with Psi Upsilon.

“Our thoughts are with the young man who was assaulted, and all the students at Cornell who are affected by this atrocious crime,” said Executive Director Thomas Fox “The purpose of Psi Upsilon Fraternity is ‘United in Friendship, Psi Upsilon members aspire to moral, intellectual, and social excellence in themselves as they seek to inspire these values in society.’ The crimes reported on the evening of September 15th are in opposition to these values and have no place in Psi Upsilon Fraternity or at any college campus.”

“We plan to work with Cornell – it’s students and administration, to further investigate this matter. But racism and hate has no place in Psi Upsilon and will not be tolerated. The Chi Chapter at Cornell has a distinguished history with the University, dating back to 1876, and we are committed to being a benefit to Cornell and the Ithaca Community when the chapter returns to campus. “